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Both gyms received word about Ash and his friends and mobilized simultaneously.
"How dare they defy our Kaz Gym! I'll teach them a lesson they won't forget!"
At Kaz Gym, Jessie and James had exaggerated their encounter with Ash, instantly provoking Kaz's anger.
The gym's followers were now rushing toward the restaurant with aggressive shouts, while Jessie and James looked on smugly.
Meanwhile, at Yas Gym...
"Hmph! I don't care who they are! Anyone associated with Kaz Gym is our enemy!"
Yas was equally displeased after hearing the girl's report. In his mind, those who refused to join them were automatically their enemies, and he couldn't allow Kaz Gym to gain any advantage in strength.
Thus, despite being bitter rivals, both gyms were now converging on the restaurant with identical intentions.
The two groups approached from different streets and soon encountered each other at an intersection not far from the restaurant.
Bitter enemies meeting unexpectedly, each immediately assumed the worst about the other's motives.
"I knew you'd be here! Kaz, I won't let you have your way!" Seeing Kaz arrive, Yas instinctively assumed his rival was there to recruit the new Trainers.
"What did you say? You think you can stop me?"
Hearing this, Kaz naturally assumed Yas was protecting the Trainers who had supposedly disrespected Kaz Gym. The two rivals rarely exchanged words, but now that they'd encountered each other with misaligned assumptions, tensions flared instantly.
"You bet I can!" Yas stood his ground, creating a palpable tension between the two factions. At that moment, three small figures appeared cautiously on a nearby rooftop.
"They're here, just like Ash predicted! What should we do?"
"Follow Ash's plan!" The child in front whispered to the others. All three simultaneously produced palm-sized water balloons that seemed to contain something unusual.
"Now! Throw!"
At the leader's signal, they launched their projectiles. The balloons descended and burst upon impact with the gym members below.
Scarlet liquid splattered everywhere as the children continued their barrage, drenching both rival groups.
"Ah! What's happening?"
"What is this?!"
"Who's up there?!" The unexpected attack put everyone on high alert. The lead child then stood proudly on the rooftop.
"Hey! Since you're ruining everyone's business, we thought you'd enjoy being served some expired ketchup! How does it taste?" The child taunted them with a mischievous expression.
"You rotten little brats!" Both Yas and Kaz were splattered with ketchup, glaring furiously at the roof.
"Enjoy your condiments! We're out of here!" After mocking them, the child signaled to the others, and they quickly fled across the rooftop.
"After them! Now!" Kaz roared, angrily wiping ketchup from his face.
"You go after them too! We must catch those kids before Kaz Gym does!"
Though they were both victims of the same prank, their competitive nature remained unchanged. Even in pursuit of troublemakers, neither would allow the other to succeed first.
"Yes, sir!" Members of both gyms responded simultaneously.
A mob of people rushed forward without hesitation. Kaz and Yas followed closely, leading their followers in pursuit of the children.
Rounding a corner, they spotted the three children climbing down from a building ahead.
"Luuuu!!!"
The children stuck out their tongues in unison before turning and running toward another corner. Kaz Gym's followers were in front, with Jessie and James taking the lead.
Their annoyance growing at the children's taunting, they signaled everyone to speed up the chase. Yas Gym's members followed closely behind, turning the corner to see the three children ducking into an alley.
"They went that way! Don't let them escape!" Jessie shouted, rushing forward with the rest of Kaz Gym's members following close behind.
CRASH!!!!
"AAAAHH!!!!"
Before anyone could react, the ground beneath their feet suddenly gave way. Jessie and James were the first to fall, screaming as they plummeted into a deep pit.
The others tumbled in after them, quickly filling the enormous hole. The mass of bodies piled up, with Team Rocket crushed at the very bottom.
"Where did this trap come from?!"
"This is humiliating! We're Team Rocket—we're supposed to set the traps, not fall into them!" They prided themselves on being trap experts but had never expected to become victims themselves.
"Look at those Kaz Gym idiots! They fell right into the trap! Step over them!" Yas Gym members gloated at the sight, their leader directing them forward.
"Aaaargh! That hurts!"
For a brief moment, Yas Gym's followers used their rivals as human stepping stones, causing even more chaos and pain.
By the time all of Yas Gym had crossed, the scene below was complete pandemonium.
Bodies were tangled in disarray, with everyone crushed underneath crying out in pain.
"What are you fools doing up there? Get off us now!" Team Rocket and others at the bottom shouted angrily, their voices muffled.
At that moment, a large net descended from above, covering the entire pit and preventing anyone from climbing out.
"Hmph! No escaping for you now."
A figure approached the edge, hands on hips, speaking with satisfaction. Hearing the voice, Jessie and James' expressions shifted from pain to recognition.
"The twerpette?!" They immediately recognized Misty's voice, realizing that she and the others must have orchestrated this trap.
"Listen up, little girl! You'd better let us out right now, or you'll regret it later!" Team Rocket yelled from below, their threats sounding hollow from their compromised position.